In the wake of Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to rescind Obama-era guidance that protected legal marijuana businesses, legislators in Massachusetts have introduced a bill that would prohibit state and local police from participating in federal cases against people or licensed operators who follow state marijuana laws. The bill also serves as a response to the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, Andrew Lelling, who declined to ensure that that his office would uphold the will of Massachusetts voters, calling marijuana a “dangerous drug” and refusing to limit potential prosecutions to illicit dealers.

The State Police and the Boston and Worcester Police Departments have indicated that they will not participate in federal interdiction, but other smaller departments may still be tempted by the prospect of receiving unencumbered funds from civil asset forfeitures. This legislation, if passed, will make it much more difficult for federal agents to disrupt state-legal commerce. Representatives Dave Rogers and Mike Connolly introduced the bill, calling it the “Refusal of Complicity Act.” According to Rep. Rogers, “We have a state law, it’s valid, and we think it should be respected. If federal law enforcement has something different in mind, they can use their own resources, because Massachusetts taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay to do something that goes against our laws.”

MPP’s Will Luzier, a leader of the Yes on 4 campaign, helped to conceive the bill. “I think it will help local law enforcement agencies to have clear parameters regarding their involvement with federal actions against lawfully permitted cannabis establishments,” said Jim Borghesani, an MPP spokesman.

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ALL YOU ANTI-MARIJUANA NAZIS, LEGALIZE IT ALREADY!! IT HELPS PEOPLE!! JEFF SESSIONS CAN GO SCREW!! HE IS BUSY BEING THE NAZI, LIKE ADOLF EICHMAN!! YOU SAY MARIJUANA IS DANGEROUS?? YET, SESSIONS WANTS A FENTANYL SYNTHETIC THC PRODUCT!! FENTANYL CAN KILL YOU JUST BY INHALING GRAINS OF IT!! YET, YOU THINK THIS IS BETTER??? OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE NO FUCKING CLUE WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT!!

Medical marijuana is a miracle drug for those who are in constant pain , veterans and children with epilepsy – people with Ulcerated Colitis, irritable bowel and so many other terrible sources of pain. – shame on these idiots who have no idea of what it really is and therefore are against it – People need to get educated on the merits of medical Cannabis instead of condemning it like the idiot jeff Sessions. It is not a paper of dried weeds – it is mainly an oil derived from special plants and it is the oil that stops the pain of thousands of young and old people. Without Medical marijuana, people have to resort to highly toxic pain pills like Oxiycotin and vicadin that destroy the liver. There is NO after affect from Medical Marijuana – it is safer than alcohol! It needs to be kept available fr people in pain.

I would like to thank MMP for keeping me current with both the state and federal pulse regarding marijuana. As a healthcare professional and a veteran I strongly believe in our freedom as citizens, regardless of your involvement in it, and our right in the pursuit of happiness, . I don’t believe in ranting and name calling, it doesn’t have a positive impact in the cause. And this blog is for the responses to Massachusetts roll in protecting the legal marijuana businesses. The bill set forth by state legislators has a huge impact for canabis businesses in Massachusetts and other states considering this business type.

Sadly, I feel any action against marijuana is full of ignorance and still of the old school bias … “it’s bad” both medically and recreationally. There will always be haters … As an individual attempting to be a license holder, the action of the legislature defended the businesses to be is reassuring!
Here’s 3 factoids for you… 1) fentanyl can cause death through respiratory depression by smoking/inhaling/injecting 12.5 micrograms with opioid naieve individuals 2) inhaling water, 15ml, may kill humans 3) I have NEVER treated a patient with canabis addiction, overdose or going through detoxification, MPP … keep up the great work! Stay kind everyone.

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"The sole tangible way in which pot is a gateway to other illegal drugs is that it is illegal. The best way to end this easy path to worse narcotics is to legalize it and take it out of the hands of criminals and gangs."
Author Andrew Sullivan, The New Republic, May 28, 2001